Minister kept in dark over new college

Tasmania's Education Minister is furious he was not consulted about a new federally-funded agricultural college planned for the state's north-west.

The $4 million college at Smithton will be funded using regional development money made available through the forest peace deal.

The Federal Regional Development Minister Simon Crean made the announcement in Tasmania last week.

His spokesman said the Federal and State Governments worked together to develop the project.

But the Education Minister and Greens leader Nick McKim said he knew nothing about it.

"It beggars belief that the Federal Government would announce an investment of that nature without touching base with the State Minister for Education or indeed the State Department of Education," Mr McKim said.

The Education Minister said he did not know whether the state would need to contribute or how the new college would impact the Polytechnic and Skills Institute, which already offers training in the area.

He also said the move was pre-emptive because a State Government report on vocational education and training was not due until April.

Opposition spokesman Peter Gutwein said the situation showed a breakdown in the State Government's relationship with Canberra.

"This is symptomatic of the breakdown in communication at a State Government cabinet level and quite clearly there's a disconnect between both the State and Federal Government as well," he said.